Chapter 1

At my engagement party, my fiancé Edward Sterling's childhood friend, Sophia Goodwin, tossed a half-eaten lamb chop into his plate right in front of everyone.

She pouted at him. "It's too fatty. I don't want it."

Edward, used to it, picked it up, trimmed off the fat, and fed the rest to her.

That night, I told him I wanted to call off the engagement.

He slouched against the headboard, looking totally uninterested. "Seriously? Just because of a lamb chop?"

I calmly took off my engagement ring and placed it in his palm.

Edward said, "Charlotte, you're getting more and more unreasonable. Sophia and I are just friends. Do you really have to get worked up over this?"

Edward added, "Fine, we can call it off. But remember, you're the one leaving me first. So don't come begging me to take you back."

He always thought I was crazy in love with him, and that I was just putting on an act to keep him close.

But he never realized that even the warmest heart would freeze if one kept throwing cold water on it.

This time, I really meant it. I was done with him for good.

*****

As I dragged my suitcase out of the bedroom, I saw Edward lounging on the living room sofa, chatting on the phone.

He said, "Yeah, Charlotte's acting up again. It's nothing—just her usual mood. She'll come back on her own in a couple of days. Women, you know—just need a bit of sweet talking."

When he saw me, he didn't even bother to hang up. He just lifted his chin, looking down at me with that condescending, almost charitable look.

He said, "Seriously? You're really leaving? It's already dark outside. Stop being so dramatic."

I ignored him and headed straight for the entryway to put on my shoes.

His impatient voice came from behind me. "Charlotte, I'm warning you. If you walk out that door today, we're done for good."

My hand froze on the doorknob for a split second.

I recalled that three years ago, I met his childhood friend Sophia for the first time.

It was at another fancy party. Sophia came rushing over and crashed into me, spilling red wine all down my dress.

Edward's immediate reaction? He didn't even ask if I was alright. He just got all flustered and shielded Sophia behind his back, saying, "Sophia didn't mean it, don't blame her."

Back then, I actually tried convincing myself they were just practically close friends—nothing more.

It seemed that I was seriously naive to believe that at that time.

I turned to face Edward, locking eyes with that handsome but stone-cold expression. Word by word, I told him, "Edward, we were done a long time ago."

The door slammed shut behind me.

When I got home looking completely drained, Dad just took one look at me and didn't ask anything. He just told me to get some rest first.

Early the next morning, Dad was sitting at the dining table, looking really serious.

He asked, "Charlotte, did something happen between you and Edward?"

I told him I wanted to call off the engagement.

Dad let out a heavy sigh. "I know it hasn't been easy for you, but our company's partnership with Sterling Group..."

My chest tightened.

The whole marriage between the Linley family and the Sterling family was just a business deal from the start.

I loved Edward, so it never felt like a burden to me.

But now, all it did was tie me down and hold me hostage.

Dad let out a heavy sigh and simply reminded me, "Charlotte, the holiday is coming up. Don't forget to visit your mom and brother at their graves."

Right then, my phone buzzed. It was Edward's mom, my future mother-in-law, Lauren.

As soon as I picked up, her sharp, cutting voice blasted through the speaker.

She snapped, "Charlotte, what kind of spoiled rich-girl fit are you throwing now? What did Edward ever do to you that you'd run off in the middle of the night like this?

"Our family won't tolerate that attitude. If you don't drag yourself back here and apologize to Edward today, just forget about marrying into our family."

I let out a dry, mocking laugh. "Sure, have it your way. Call it off, then."

After saying that, I hung up on her without another word.

Lauren totally didn't see that coming. There was this awkward silence for a few seconds, and then she started blowing up my phone with insult after insult.

[You ungrateful brat! You really think our family needs you that badly?]

[Just wait—without the Sterling family, you're nothing!]

I didn't even bother reading them, just blocked her in seconds.

My phone buzzed—a message popped up from a strange number.

[It's not as simple as him protecting Sophia.]

[He's protecting a secret that could destroy him forever.]